Building wall with insulating and air-filtering ventilator



Se t. 26, 1967 J. H. COSTLEY 3,343,475

BUILDING WALL WITH INSULATING AND AIR-FILTERING VENTILATOR Filed Oct. 20. 1965 7 I I T fly 5w m a E mm M Q G F J I 9 F 3 i m a v B G m E fl w Y- E m n w x 0 /V 0 2 uxwss H. 605725;

ATTOE/t/VS United States Patent Office 3,343,475 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,475 BUILDING WALL WITH INSULATING AND AIR-FILTERWG VENTILATOR James H. Costley, 719 9th Ave., Two Harbors, Minn. 55616 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,945 Claims. (Cl. 98-37) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cartridge filter is placed in a relatively narrow, elongated slot formed in a block of insulating material of lightweight, rigid foam plastic. A sliding grille mechanism is disposed at the inner face of the block and a hood is disposed at the outer face. The slot slopes upwardly from the outer face to the inner face. Consequently, when the block is installed in the outside wall of a building, the movement of air is slowed down to a speed where a cold draft is not felt and also condensation is avoided.

This invention relates to the art of ventilation. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for use in a dwelling or other building to provide ventilation therefor without sacrificing heat insulation and without permitting airborne contaminants to enter the building.

Ventilation is a diflicult problem in homes provided with storm windows. Of course, the purpose and function of the storm windows is to provide a dead air space between the windows, this air space acting as an insulator and minimizing the heating expenses that must be borne by the homeowner. In order to avoid breaking or disrupt ing the dead air space, many people will simply refrain from opening the windows during cold weather and will depend upon leakage and the effects of opening doors for replenishing the fresh air in the home. On the other hand, some people will raise both the main window and the storm window slightly in order to admit fresh air. This sacrifices the insulation provided by the dead air space and, in addition, permits moisture to build up between the windows, which results in damage to the paint and to the wood of the sill and frame. The opening of the windows therefore adversely affects both heating and maintenance costs.

In certain localities, the direct admission of outside air is also apt to produce health problems for the occupants, Soot in industrial areas, automobile exhaust fumes, and pollen may be cited as examples of undesirable airborne substances which can freely enter the building through the open windows.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a building ventilating device which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it is an aim of the invention to provide a means for admitting outside air into a building while maintaining heat insulation and while preventing the entrance of undesirable air contaminants.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insulated, air-filtering building ventilating device which is simple and inexpensive to construct and which is easy to install and maintain. In this regard, the device is intended to be installed either through an existing opening in the building wall, such as a window, or through an opening constructed elsewhere in the wall, if desired.

Briefly described, the invention consists basically of a block of material which has heat insulation properties. This block of material is inserted in the wall of the building and extends therethrough, having an inner face and an outer face adjacent the inner surface of the wall and its outer surface, respectively. The block contains an elongated, narrow slot extending from its inner face to its outer face. This slot accommodates a filter material through which the outside air must pass to enter the building, the filter removing the undesirable contaminants. In addition, the inner face of the block carries a means for effectively blocking and opening the slot to provide ventilation when desired.

Other objects, advantages and new features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational sectional view taken through an embodiment of the invention which is adapted to be placed above the sill of a window;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the inside end of the ventilator of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a view of another embodiment of the invention, wherein the ventilator is mounted below the sill of a window.

With reference now to FIGURE 1, it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of the invention consists of a block 10 made of a material which is light in weight and which is a good insulator for heat, such as a foamed polystyrene plastic material, for example. In this embodiment, the block 10 is adapted to be placed in an existing window opening adjacent the sill, so that the device may be quickly and conveniently installed in a finished home.

For illustrative purposes, the invention has been shown as applied to a double-hung Window frame which conventionally has a lower sill 12 extending to and beyond the outside surface 14 of the building wall 16 and a stool 18 mounted adjacent the inner wall 20 thereof. If the window has been provided with a slidin track storm window, the sill 12 will carry a lower channel element 22 of the storm window frame.

Since window structures vary widely as to size and configuration, the invention contemplates that the block 10 Will be made of such size that it may be trimmed and shaped by the installer to fit closely within a particular window frame. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 1, the lower surface 24 of block 10 has beenshaped to conform with the stool 18 and the sill 12, the block being stepped as at 26 to clear the channel 22, if this element is present. While the shape of the ends of the block does not appear in the drawing, it will be understood that these too are shaped to fit the window frame.

Those surfaces of the block which are not in abutment with the Window frame are preferably covered by a skin 28 of suitable material, such as thin-gauge aluminum sheet or fiber glass, for example. As shown, the skin 28 is disposed on a vertically disposed inner face 30, a parallel outer face 32 and a top face 34 on block 10.

After the block has been fitted to the window opening, the inner main window sash 36 and the storm window 38 are lowered onto the top surface 34 thereof to form a tight fit and to define the dead air space 40 between the windows. It will be necessary, when using the ventilator of the invention in this manner, to complete the dead air space 40 by blocking the gap which will exist between the meeting rails of the window 36 when it is in the partially raised condition. This blocking is similar to what is done in association with window mounted air conditioner units and is deemed to be of such known character as to require no further explanation.

A ventilation opening in the form of a narrow slot 42 forming an elongated passage that extends through the block 10 from its outer face 32 to its inner face 30. Slot 42 extends in the lateral direction substantially across the width of the block 10 and is sloped downwardly as shown so that its outer end 44 is lower than its inner end 46 for drainage purposes or at least so that rain water cannot flow into the building. A hood 47 is preferably formed on block 10 above and in spaced, overlying relation to the slot, as shown, so that wind pressure does not impinge directly on the outer end 44 of the slot.

Adjacent its outer end 44, the slot has disposed transversely thereacross a screen 48, which may be ordinary insect screen, for example. The screen 48 serves primarily as a limit stop for a cartridge filter 50 which is placed in the slot 42 for the purpose of removing airborne contaminants such as pollen, as mentioned above. The permeability of the filter 50 will vary according to the nature of the airborne particles which are desired to be removed, the filter ranging from a relatively open material, such as is found in conventional furnace filters, to much denser configurations.

Adjacent its inner face 30, the block 10 carries a mechanism 53 for selectively opening and closing the inner end 46 of the slot 42, so as to provide ventilation when the occupant desires. Mechanism 53 consists of a sliding grille mechanism, having an outer box-like casing 54 and an inner slide member 56. The casing 54 has a plurality of openings 58 therein and the inner slide has a plurality of openings 60, which can be registered with the openings 58 to provide the open or ventilated condition. For moving the inner slide between its open and closed positions, the slide is provided with a knob 62 which has a shaft portion 64 extending through an elongated slot 66 in the member 54. By grasping the knob 62, the slide member 56 can be moved horizontally within the box 54 to effect the desired adjustment of the registry of the openings 58 and 60.

To permit access to the slot 42 to replace the filter 50, the entire mechanism 53 is pivotally mounted on the front face 30 of the block by means of a pivot pin 68. The normal position of the groove assembly is defined by means of a stop 70 which is embedded in the material of the block 10 and which extends outwardly from the front face 30, as shown, so that the groove assembly may rest thereon. When it is desired to service the filter 50, the knob 62 may be grasped and the mechanism 53 pivoted around the pin 68 to expose the inner portion 46 of the slot. Thereafter, the mechanism 53 may be returned into engagement with the stop 70 to place it in its operative position.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 4 where the parts of the ventilator which correspond to the parts in FIGURE 1 are indicated by primed reference numerals to distinguish this embodiment from that of FIGURE 1. In the FIGURE 4 embodiment, the block of insulating material is indicated at 10' and is mounted below the window sill 12'. The construction of the slot 42' and its associated elements, such as screen 48' and filter 50, is the same as in the FIGURE 1 embodiment so that no further explanation thereof is deemed necessary.

The block 10' may be bolted in place or secured in any other desired manner, as, for example, by employing an adhesive along the top surface 34' thereof and thereby adhering the block to the lower surface of the sill 12'. This construction is particularly useful with pre-hung window frame assemblies adapted to be mounted as a unit in a building wall, since the ventilator block 10' can be attached before the frame is inserted in the wall. All that is required then is to form the rough opening in the wall slightly larger to accommodate the additional depth provided by the block. Normally, the outer end of the sill 12' will extend beyond the outer face 32' of block 10' so that the sill itself will act as a drip shield. Of course, with the embodiment of FIGURE 4, the windows can be used in the conventional manner.

It will be noted that the position of the grille mechanism 53' under the stool 18' is such that the mechanism 53 cannot be swung upwardly as in the FIGURE 1 embodiment. Another way of exposing the slot 42' is necessary, therefore. This can be simply accomplished, for example, by mounting the mechanism 53 on the inner face 30' by means of screws (not shown) so thatit may be removed entirely from the block 10 when it is desired to service the filter.

It should now be apparent that the use of the present invention will provide ventilation for the building in which it is installed without sacrificing the heat insulation provided by the storm windows and without admitting undesirable airborne contaminants into the building. Numerous other benefits arise fro-m maintaining the dead air space between the windows, among which may be mentioned the fact that condensation is reduced to a minimum thereby preserving the paint on the window frame. Moreover, this eliminates dry air conditions within the building since moisture is not lost by condensation on the glass. 7

Besides removing contaminants, the filter material in the ventilating opening will serve to block the direct flow of air to eliminate drafts while permitting the fresh outside air to mix with the air within the building. In addition, the filter material will act as a sound absorber to enhance the privacy within the building by absorbing street noise and other undesirable outside noise.

Various changes and modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description and the invention is not intended to be limited thereby. For example, the insulating ventilator block need not be installed in an existing opening, but may be placed in an opening cut through a wall in an older home, if desired. Accordingly, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than herein specifically described.

I claim: 7

1. In combination with a building having an outside wall, an insulated ventilating device comprising a block of lightweight, rigid foam plastic, heat insulating material disposed through the outside wall of said building and having an inner face, an outer face and a slot extending completely through said wall from the outer face of said block to its said inner face to form a passage for the flow of air from said outer face to said inner face, said slot being elongated in the direction of air fiow from said outer face to said inner face, a cartridge filter containing filter material filling said slot, and means adjacent said inner face for selectively blocking and opening said slot whereby, upon the opening of said means, filtered air may enter said building from the exterior to the interior thereof through said slot.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a screen disposed across said slot adjacent said outer face.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, said blocking and opening means comprising a sliding grille mechanism having a casing having a plurality of openings therein and a slide mounted within the casing, said slide having a plurality of openings selectively registrable with the openings in said casing, said casing being mounted on said inner face of said block in blocking relation to said slot and being movable to permit access to said slot to remove and replace said filter material.

4. The combination as recited in claim 1, the end of said slot adjacent said outer face being lower than the end thereof adjacent said inner face.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a hood disposed in spaced, overlying relation to the pressure cannot impinge directly on said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Macleod 9894 Conley 55-512 X Riggle 9899 X Tropiano 98101 X Knight 98-98 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A BUILDING HAVING AN OUTSIDE WALL, AN INSULATED VENTILATING DEVICE COMPRISING A BLOCK OF LIGHTWEIGHT, RIGID FOAM PLASTIC, HEAT INSULATING MATERIAL DISPOSED THROUGH THE OUTSIDE WALL OF SAID BUILDING AND HAVING AN INNER FACE, AN OUTER FACE AND A SLOT EXTENDING COMPLETELY THROUGH SAID WALL FROM THE OUTER FACE OF SAID BLOCK TO ITS SAID INNER FACE TO FORM A PASSAGE FOR THE FLOW OF AIR FROM SAID OUTER FACE TO SAID INNER FACE, SAID SLOT BEING ELONGATED IN THE DIRECTION OF AIR FLOW FROM SAID OUTER FACE TO SAID INNER FACE, A CARTRIDGE FILTER CONTAINING FILTER MATERIAL FILLING SAID SLOT, AND MEANS ADJACENT SAID INNER FACE FOR SELECTIVELY BLOCKING AND OPENING SAID SLOT INNER BY, UPON THE OPENING OF SAID MEANS, FILTERED AIR MAY ENTER SAID BUILDING FROM THE EXTERIOR TO THE INTERIOR THEREOF THROUGH SAID SLOT. 